Repositioning user perspectives in virtual reality environments

ABSTRACT

Optimizations are provided for facilitating optimal viewing positions for viewing virtual objects in VR environments. Initially, user selection of a virtual object being rendered in a VR display is detected. Subsequently, an optimal viewing position is dynamically calculated based on one or more characteristic of the virtual object to be viewed. A predetermined triggering event is also detected, and in response to the predetermined triggering event, a scene which is arranged to display the selected virtual object from the optimal viewing position is rendered in the VR display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/546,414 filed on Aug. 16, 2017 andentitled “REPOSITIONING USER PERSPECTIVES IN VIRTUAL REALITYENVIRONMENTS,” and which application is expressly incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Mixed-reality computer systems, including virtual-reality systems andaugmented-reality systems, have recently received significant interestfor their ability to create immersive experiences for users.Conventional virtual reality (“VR” hereafter) systems create animmersive experience such that a user's entire view is obstructed by avirtual world. VR systems are distinguished from conventionalaugmented-reality systems that merely augment a real-world view, byoverlaying a hologram image in the field of view of the real-world view,for example. Unless specifically stated or unless specifically required,as understood by one of skill in the art, the descriptions herein applyto VR systems or equivalent systems.

VR systems often use one or more on-body devices (e.g., a head-mounteddevice, a handheld device, etc.), typically including a head-mounteddisplay (“HMD” hereafter). The HMD enables a user to view virtualobjects and/or environments. By way of an example, a VR system maydisplay a virtual representation of a scenic vista on a HMD with whichthe user may interact (e.g., walk around in the VR environment).

VR environments often include virtual representations of VR applicationsor objects, collectively referred to as VR objects, which are intendedto be viewed and/or interacted with by users immersed in the VRenvironment (e.g., a virtual representation of a computer screen or workof art). In some instances, the VR objects are best experienced from acertain perspective or position (e.g., location, distance, orientation,altitude, etc.) the with respect to the VR objects.

To facilitate optimized interaction with VR objects, users may berequired to adjust their position with respect to the VR object to anoptimal viewing position with precise movements. Such movements mayinclude virtual walking, physical walking which is tracked andrepresented in the VR environment, and/or VR teleportation.

In some systems, VR teleportation is enabled and can be effectuated fora user when a user selects a new location in the VR environment to berepositioned. For instance, some systems are configured with inputdevices that enable a user to cast a virtual ray towards a locationwhere the user wants to be repositioned in the VR environment. When theuser selects a location to be repositioned, they are effectivelyteleported to that location in the VR environment and the VR scenes areregenerated to reflect the user's perspective from that new location. Insome instances, the ray that is used to select a new location isdirected at an object that the user wants to be positioned next to.

Some VR environments hardcode a set of predetermined viewing positionsfor the selected objects or other POIs (points of interest) that areidentified with the virtual ray. These predetermined viewing positionscontrol where a user will be teleported to when the user selects a POIor other object in the virtual environment, with or without use of thevirtual ray. Unfortunately, use of predetermined viewing positionsprevents users from being repositioned at optimal/customizable viewingpositions for the objects and/or POI that they select in the VRenvironments. Furthermore, excessive use of fixed teleport locationscommunicates to users a limited, closed environment which is notintuitive or comfortable for many users. Accordingly, there exists aneed to improve systems and methods for providing users withcustomizable and optimal viewing positions in a VR environment.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodimentsdescribed herein may be practiced.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments are directed to systems, hardware storage devices,and methods for repositioning user perspectives in a VR environment andinclude, in some embodiments, providing optimal viewing positions forselected virtual objects in VR environments.

In some embodiments, user selection of a virtual object being renderedin a VR display device (e.g., HMD—Head Mounted Display) is detected.Subsequently, an optimal viewing position is dynamically calculatedbased on one or more characteristic of the virtual object to be viewed.A predetermined triggering event is also detected, and in response tothe predetermined triggering event, a scene which is arranged to displaythe selected virtual object from the optimal viewing position isrendered in the HMD.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the descriptionwhich follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or maybe learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features andadvantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of theinstruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. Features of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, or may belearned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features can be obtained, a more particular descriptionof the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments which are illustrated in the appendeddrawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typicalembodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting inscope, embodiments will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of acomputer system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary ray casting virtual object selectionsystem in a VR environment.

FIG. 3 illustrates additional examples of a ray casting virtual objectselection system in a VR environment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary scenario in which a user selects avirtual object for viewing from an optimal viewing position and thecomputer system provides a dynamically determined optimal viewingposition.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of a scenario in which the optimalviewing position provided by the computer system is based on motioncharacteristics of the virtual object to be viewed.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate an exemplary scenario in which theoptimal viewing position provided by the computer system is tethered toa moving virtual object to be viewed.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a scenario in which the optimal viewingposition provided by the computer system is influenced by the locationof a user selection indicator on the virtual object to be viewed.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method for providingan optimal viewing position for viewing a virtual object in a VRenvironment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed embodiments are directed to systems, hardware storage devices,and methods for repositioning user perspectives in a VR environment andinclude, in some instances, providing optimal viewing positions forselected virtual objects in VR environments.

The embodiments may be utilized, in some instances, to overcome some ofthe limitations inherent in using a fixed set of viewing positions forselected POIs and/or other objects in VR environments. In some disclosedembodiments, optimal viewing positions are dynamically determined basedon the context of the virtual content to be viewed. Furthermore,disclosed embodiments allow VR environments to maintain an open,exploration-based atmosphere while still providing users with optimalviewing positions.

Some embodiments utilize or include a wearable display of a computersystem, which may be a HMD. A computer system detects a user's selectionof a virtual object or VR application being rendered in the HMD. Forinstance, in some embodiments, a user selects a virtual object bycasting a ray which comes in contact with the virtual object. Thecomputing system also identifies an optimal viewing position from whichthe selected virtual object may be viewed. In some embodiments, theoptimal viewing position is dynamically calculated based oncharacteristics of the virtual object (e.g., width, height, and/ormotion). The computing system also detects a predetermined triggeringevent (e.g., activation of a user control). In response to detecting thepredetermined triggering event, the computing system renders anoptimized scene in the HMD which displays the selected virtual objectfrom the viewpoint of the optimal viewing position. In some instances,the optimal viewing position is also determined based on metadata,artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning. For example, data mayinclude alterations in viewing position made by users after therendering of the optimized scene in the HMD, and, in some instances, thecomputing system modifies the optimal viewing position based on thesealterations in viewing position.

Having just described some of the various benefits and high-levelattributes of the disclosed embodiments, additional detailed disclosurewill be provided with reference to FIG. 1, which presents anintroductory discussion of an exemplary computing system that can beused to implement aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Following thediscussion of FIG. 1, various architectures and supporting illustrationswill be discussed using FIGS. 2-7 to further illustrate a computingsystem may dynamically determine an optimal viewing position of avirtual object based on characteristics of the virtual object. Lastly, aflow diagram will be detailed with respect to the remaining figure (FIG.8), to describe corresponding methods for implementing the disclosedembodiments for providing an optimal viewing position for optimallyviewing a virtual object in a VR environment.

Exemplary Computing Systems

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary computer system 100 may takevarious different forms. For example, in FIG. 1, the computer system 100is depicted as a wearable head unit 100A. Although the computer system100 is depicted as a wearable head unit 100A, the ellipses 100Billustrates that the computer system 100 may be embodied in any form andis not limited strictly to the depiction illustrated in FIG. 1. By wayof example, the computer system 100 may take the form of a desktopcomputer, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, or any other computingdevice.

In its most basic configuration, the computer system 100 includes atleast one hardware processing unit 110 and storage 120. The storage 120may be physical system memory, which may be volatile, non-volatile, orsome combination of the two. The term “memory” may also be used hereinto refer to non-volatile mass storage such as physical storage media. Ifthe computer system 100 is distributed, the processing, memory, and/orstorage capability may be distributed as well. As used herein, the term“executable module,” “executable component,” or even “component” canrefer to software objects, routines, or methods that may be executed onthe computer system 100. The different components, modules, engines, andservices described herein may be implemented as objects or processorsthat execute on the computer system 100 (e.g. as separate threads).

The disclosed embodiments may comprise or utilize a special-purpose orgeneral-purpose computer including computer hardware, such as, forexample, one or more processors (such as processor 110) and systemmemory (such as storage 120), as discussed in greater detail below.Embodiments also include physical and other computer-readable media forcarrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or datastructures. Such computer-readable media can be any available media thatcan be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system.Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions inthe form of data are physical computer storage media. Computer-readablemedia that carry computer-executable instructions are transmissionmedia. Thus, by way of example and not limitation, the currentembodiments can comprise at least two distinctly different kinds ofcomputer-readable media: computer storage media and transmission media.

Computer storage media are hardware storage devices, such as RAM, ROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives (SSDs) that are based on RAM, Flashmemory, phase-change memory (PCM), or other types of memory, or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired programcode means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data, ordata structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 comprises various differentcomponents, including input/output (“I/O”) interface(s) 130, graphicsrendering engine(s) 140, and one or more sensors 150. The computersystem 100 may also be connected (via a wired or wireless connection) toexternal sensors 160 (e.g., one or more remote cameras, accelerometers,gyroscopes, acoustic sensors, magnetometers, altimeters, etc.). Further,the computer system 100 may also be connected through one or more wiredor wireless networks 170 to one or more remote systems 180 that areconfigured to perform any of the processing described with regard tocomputer system 100. The computer system 100 may also accesscomputer-executable instructions, data, data structures, etc. stored onthe remote system(s) 180 through the wired or wireless network(s) 170.

During use, a user of the computer system 100 is able to perceiveinformation (e.g., a VR scene) through a display screen that is includedwithin the I/O interface(s) 130, and which is visible to the user. Thedisplay screen may be implemented as a HMD. The I/O interface(s) 130 andsensors 150/160 also include gesture detection devices, eye trackers,and/or other movement detecting components (e.g., cameras, gyroscopes,accelerometers, magnetometers, acoustic sensors, global positioningsystems (“GPS”), etc.) that are able to detect positioning and movement(e.g., relative or actual) of one or more real-world objects, such as awall, a user's hand, a stylus, and/or any other object(s) that the useris near or may interact with while being immersed in a VR scene.

In some instances, the positioning and movement of the user and theobjects (both virtual and actual) are continuously monitored (or,alternatively, periodically monitored at a predetermined interval and/orin response to a detected event (e.g., movement of the HMD)). Thismonitoring specifically detects any variation in the position and themovement of the objects, such as a detected change in position,velocity, orientation, or acceleration. These movements can be absolutemovements and/or relative movements, such as compared to a relativepositioning of the HMD, and such that movements/positioning of the HMDwill be calculated into the relative movements/positioning of theobjects as they are presented in the scene.

The graphics rendering engine 140 is configured, with the processor(s)110, to render one or more virtual objects within the scene. Therendered object(s) can be a coarse rendering (e.g., low resolutionand/or without texturing, for example), or a rich rendering (e.g., highresolution and/or with texturing). In some embodiments, this renderingincludes virtual representations of real-world physical objects that aremapped to the relative positions of the real-world objects. As a result,the virtual objects accurately move in response to movement of thereal-world objects, as well as movement of the computer system 100. Thegraphics rendering engine 140 is also configured to render one or morevirtual objects that are purely virtual (without being mapped toreal-world objects). The graphics rendering engine 140 is furthercapable of rendering graphical media in response to user or othercommands (e.g., a ray for selecting a virtual object).

The graphics rendering engine(s) 140, which may include one or moreGPUs, may be configured to render the virtual objects with certaindisplay properties. These properties include coloring, transparency oropaqueness, texturing, edge definition (e.g., thickness and/or sharpnessvs. blurring and/or feathering), size, and so forth. In someembodiments, when certain position (e.g., distance, orientation,velocity and/or other position/movement) thresholds are detected for thereal-world object(s), one or more combinations of the display propertiesfor the virtual representation of the object(s) will be modified (atleast while the detected positioning, orientation, velocity and/orposition/movement meets or exceeds the thresholds).

A “network,” like the network 170 shown in FIG. 1, is defined as one ormore data links and/or data switches that enable the transport ofelectronic data between computer systems, modules, and/or otherelectronic devices. When information is transferred, or provided, over anetwork (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired andwireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as atransmission medium. The computer system 100 will include one or morecommunication channels that are used to communicate with the network170. Transmissions media include a network that can be used to carrydata or desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or in the form of data structures. Further, thesecomputer-executable instructions can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

Upon reaching various computer system components, program code means inthe form of computer-executable instructions or data structures can betransferred automatically from transmission media to computer storagemedia (or vice versa). For example, computer-executable instructions ordata structures received over a network or data link can be buffered inRAM within a network interface module (e.g., a network interface card or“NIC”) and then eventually transferred to computer system RAM and/or toless volatile computer storage media at a computer system. Thus, itshould be understood that computer storage media can be included incomputer system components that also (or even primarily) utilizetransmission media.

Computer-executable (or computer-interpretable) instructions comprise,for example, instructions that cause a general-purpose computer,special-purpose computer, or special-purpose processing device toperform a certain function or group of functions. Thecomputer-executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or evensource code. Although the subject matter has been described in languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the described features or acts described above.Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example formsof implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments may bepracticed in network computing environments with many types of computersystem configurations, including personal computers, desktop computers,laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones,PDAs, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The embodiments may alsobe practiced in distributed system environments where local and remotecomputer systems that are linked (either by hardwired data links,wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless datalinks) through a network each perform tasks (e.g. cloud computing, cloudservices and the like). In a distributed system environment, programmodules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

As discussed above, computer systems are able to provide a broad varietyof different functions. One such function includes facilitating atransition of a user point of view to an optimal viewing position for avirtual object in a VR environment. FIGS. 2-7 demonstrate thisfunctionality with illustrations of exemplary implementations andembodiments.

Selecting a Virtual Object—Virtual Ray Casting

When a user is immersed in a VR environment, various mechanisms may beutilized to allow the user to select an object or VR application ofinterest, such as an object or VR application that the user desires toview from an optimal viewing position. In some of the disclosedembodiments, a user casts and/or manipulates a ray to select a virtualobject or VR application for viewing from an optimal viewing position.FIG. 2 illustrates a scene 200 rendered in a HMD, which includes anexemplary ray 202 with selection location 204 casted by a HMD user.

The illustrated ray 202 is not directed towards any particular object ofinterest (e.g., towards the virtual floor 206), but the direction of theray 202 may be manipulated by the user to be directed towards an objectof interest. For example, in some embodiments, a user may manipulate thedirection of a ray 202 with a user-operated control (e.g., a physicaldial, button, joystick, and/or a control within an application run onthe computer system 100) to direct the ray 202 towards a virtual objectof interest. The user-operated control may also include gestures and/orsounds detected by sensor(s) 150 and/or sensor(s) 160 (e.g., eyemovement/focus, hand gestures, vocal cues).

Some disclosed embodiments include a configuration in which the ray 202has a predetermined curvature when cast by the user. The curvature oftenlimits the range of the selection location 204 of the ray 202, or thedistance from the user wherein virtual objects are selectable. Thedisclosed embodiments include implementations where the curvature of theray 202 will be adjusted, dynamically, based on a detected raymodification input. The ray modification input may include useroperation of a dial button (e.g., a button continuously activated orheld down), user gestures (e.g., eye movement/focus or hand movements),expiration of time with the ray 202 pointed in a certain direction,and/or other indicative inputs. For example, in some instances, a usercasts a selection ray 202 in the direction of an object of interest in aVR environment, but a predetermined curvature of the ray 202 preventsthe selection location 204 from reaching the object of interest; thecomputer system 100 will detect a ray modification input and, inresponse, adjust the curvature of the ray 202 so as to increase therange of the ray 202 (and the selection location) towards the virtualobject of interest.

Some disclosed embodiments include a ray cast object selection mechanismthat also gives the user the option to transition their virtual positionto the location selected by the casted ray (e.g., VR teleportation),even where the ray does not select an object of interest (e.g., where aray is pointed to a virtual floor or blank wall).

FIG. 3 illustrates a scene 300 rendered in a HMD in which a ray 302 iscast towards a virtual wall 308 in a VR environment. In the illustratedembodiment, the computer system 100 detects that the user's selectionray 302 is not directed towards an object of interest (i.e., the virtualwall 308). In response, the computer system 100 does not identify anoptimal viewing position, but instead directs the user selection ray 302to a location proximate to the virtual wall 308 on the virtual floor306. This allows the user to VR teleport to that location if they desire(e.g., by activation of a user control).

In some embodiments, the ray 302 has properties that enables it tobounce off of the object (e.g., the virtual wall 308), terminating at alocation on a virtual floor 306 or surface near the object. Thetrajectory of the ray 302 may follow a trajectory that a physical object(e.g., a ball) would take if it were to bounce off of the selectedobject. For instance, the trajectory would bounce off of the object(e.g., the virtual wall 308) and move downward to a ground/surface area(e.g., the virtual floor 306) near the object. The user is thenteleported to that ground/surface area when the user selects thatlocation (e.g., by releasing a control, selecting a control, or byproviding any other selection input associated with the ray being cast).

In some instances, the computer system 100 detects contexts in which torefrain from repositioning a user at a selected location, based ondetermining the selected location is not an optimal viewing position.For example, some objects of interest are only optimally viewed from asingle side, and the computer system 100 will refrain from repositioningthe user on the wrong side of the object. For instance, in somedisclosed embodiments, when a virtual object intended to be viewed froman optimal side is selected by a user-cast ray from a side opposite theoptimal side, the computer system 100 refrains from identifying anoptimal viewing position on the selected side and, instead, directs theray to a location proximate to the virtual object on a more optimalviewing side. By way of example, in one instance, when a user casts aray to select a VR viewing screen from a side opposite the intendedviewing side of the VR screen, the computer system 100 directs the rayto the ground near the VR screen on the user's side (instead ofidentifying an optimal viewing position for the VR screen from theoptimal side).

In yet other instances, the computer system 100 proceeds to identify anoptimal viewing position for an object, even where a user selects theobject from a side which is not optimal for viewing. The computer system100 may be configured to proceed to identify an optimal viewing positionbased on the characteristics of the virtual object, artificialintelligence and/or machine learning (e.g., data indicating that aparticular user, or users in general, typically VR teleport near anobject and subsequently transition to an optimal viewing position forthe object, etc.), as well as other predetermined or dynamicallydetermined criteria. By way of non-limiting example, a computer system100 may identify an optimal viewing position for a virtual object inresponse to a user ray-cast selecting the virtual object from the backof the virtual object. The computing system 100 may follow this courseof action based, for example, on a predetermination that the computingsystem 100 will always identify an optimal viewing position for avirtual object regardless of where the user selects the virtual objectfrom.

Furthermore, in some implementations, when a ray is cast to select avirtual object, the object becomes highlighted or otherwise altered inappearance in the HMD to indicate to the user that the object ispresently selected.

Providing an Optimal Viewing Position for a Virtual Object

In response to detecting user selection of a virtual object or VRapplication in a VR environment (e.g., by a ray casted to select avirtual object), the computer system 100 identifies an optimal viewingposition for the virtual object selected. The optimal viewing positionis dynamically determined based on various criteria, described below.

Some disclosed embodiments include an optimal viewing position which hasan associated displacement from the virtual object to be viewed. In someembodiments, the optimal viewing position is calculated to be displacedfrom the selected virtual object by a distance that corresponds to thewidth of the virtual object. In FIG. 4, for example, a user casts a ray402 at a VR screen 410, selecting the VR screen 410 for viewing from anoptimal viewing position. The computer system 100 determines the widthof the VR screen 410 and provides an optimal viewing position 420 thatis displaced from the VR screen 410 by a distance that is substantiallyequal to the width of the VR screen 410. As illustrated, the location ofthe optimal viewing position 420 is displayed as an illuminated ring inthe HMD, with the ray 402 being directed from the selection location 404on the VR screen 410 towards the illuminated ring.

In some scenarios, the height of the virtual object to be viewed exceedsthe width of the virtual object. Consequently, in some instances, if thecomputer system proceeds with the width-based displacement determinationdescribed above, the user's resultant optimal viewing position would notdisplay the full height of the virtual object in the HMD. Therefore, insome embodiments, the optimal viewing position is calculated to bedisplaced from the selected virtual object by a distance thatcorresponds to the height of the virtual object. In one example, when auser casts a ray to select a tall window (i.e., a window that is tallerthan it is wide), the computer system 100 determines that the height ofthe window exceeds the width of the window and provides an optimalviewing position that is displaced from the window by a distance that issubstantially equal to the height of the window.

The displacement of the optimal viewing position from the virtual objectto be viewed is, in some instances, based on the height of the user andthe height of the virtual object to be viewed. Some computer systems 100include altimeters, gyroscopes, and/or other I/O interface(s) 130 fordetermining the height of the user (e.g., where the HMD is worn). Inother computer systems 100, the height of the user is manually entered.In some disclosed embodiments, the computer system adjusts thedisplacement of the optimal viewing position from the virtual objectaccording to the height of the user. For example, in FIG. 4, an optimalviewing position 420 determined by the width of the VR screen 410 isdisplayed. In response to determining that the height of the user islower than a predetermined threshold (with respect to the height and/oraltitude of the virtual object), the computer system 100 increases thedisplacement of the optimal viewing position 420 from the VR screen 410(e.g., by an amount proportional to the difference between the height ofthe user and the predetermined threshold).

In yet other embodiments, the optimal viewing position is displaced fromthe virtual object such that the entire field of view (“FOV”) of the HMDis encapsulated by the virtual object. For example, the computer system100 may compare the aspect ratio of the HMD to an aspect ratio of thevirtual object to be viewed. Based on this comparison, the computersystem 100 may select an optimal viewing position with a displacementsuch that two opposing edges of the virtual object will be substantiallyaligned with (or inside of) opposing boundaries of the FOV of the HMD.This displacement may similarly be modified based on the height of theuser and/or other considerations/parameters described herein.

In some embodiments, the optimal viewing position also has an associatedaltitude. In some instances, the computer system 100 preserves theheight of the user with respect to the VR environment as the altitude ofthe optimal viewing position (e.g., the height of the user's field ofvision off of the virtual terrain). For example, in one embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, the optimal viewing position 420 is displacedfrom the virtual floor 406 by an altitude that corresponds to the heightof the user with respect to the VR environment. Some disclosedembodiments include a configuration in which the computer system 100matches the height of the user with the height of a desired focus pointof the virtual object to be viewed (or another desired altitude).

In yet other embodiments disclosed herein, the optimal viewing positionhas an associated viewing orientation. For example, when the height ofthe user does not substantially equal the height of the center or otherdesired focus point of a virtual object, an altitudinal offset may occurbetween the user's FOV and the desired focus point of the virtualobject. In some disclosed embodiments, an alteration in the orientationof the optimal viewing position is introduced to focus the attention ofthe user on the center or desired focus point of the virtual object. Inone instance, upon detecting that the height of the user substantiallydiffers from the height of the center or desired focus point of thevirtual object, the computer system 100 alters the orientation (ortilts) the optimal viewing position so that the center of the resultantFOV of the user aligns with the center or desired focus point of thevirtual object.

In at least some embodiments demonstrated in FIG. 4, when the user'sheight does not align with the vertical center (or other desired focuspoint) of the VR screen 410, the computer system 100 alters theorientation of the optimal viewing position 420 to focus the resultantFOV of the user on the desired focus point of the VR screen 410.

In another instance, the computer system 100 bases the alteration inorientation on the relative altitude of the user and a desired focuspoint of the virtual object. Some disclosed embodiments also base thealteration in the orientation of the optimal viewing position on VRenvironmental factors and/or characteristics of the virtual object to beviewed. For instance, where an object is optimally viewed from a virtualmountain, and the height of the mountain is substantially equal to theheight of the desired focus point of the object, the computer makes noalteration in the orientation of the optimal viewing position.

In some instances, the optimal viewing position is based, at least inpart, on the FOV of the HMD. HMDs exist with various FOVs. For example,some HMDs have a horizontal field of view between 96 degrees and 210degrees. Some HMDs have a vertical field of view between 70 degrees and180 degrees. In at least one disclosed embodiment, the computer system100 detects the FOV of the user's HMD and alters the optimal viewingposition based on the HMD FOV. For example, in one embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, upon detecting that the user's HMD has ahorizontal field of view of 96 degrees and a vertical field of view of70 degrees, the computer system 100 increases the displacement of theoptimal viewing position 420 from the virtual object to ensure that theoptimal viewing position 420 fully captures the virtual object to beviewed (the VR screen 410).

In yet other instances, the computer system 100 provides an optimalviewing position that is based on a function including valuesrepresenting motion characteristics of the virtual object (e.g.,direction, velocity, acceleration).

For instance, in at least some embodiments, the optimal viewing positionis determined based on the motion of the virtual object to be viewed.Upon user selection of a moving virtual object, for example, thecomputer system 100 detects motion characteristics (e.g., velocity,acceleration) of the virtual object to be viewed. In some instances,based on the detected motion characteristics, the computer system 100provides an optimal viewing position with an increased displacement fromthe virtual object and/or an altered orientation. In one instance, theoptimal viewing position is chosen to allow the user to continuouslyview the virtual object as the virtual object moves, as opposed toproviding an optimal viewing position that only allows for momentaryviewing of the virtual object (e.g., the virtual object moves out of theuser's field of view soon after the user begins viewing the object fromthe optimal viewing position).

By way of non-limiting example, FIG. 5A illustrates a scenario in whicha user casts a ray 502 to select a moving train 510. The computer system100 detects motion characteristics of the train 510, and provides anoptimal viewing position which is located far enough from the movingtrain 510 for the user to view the moving train for an extended duration(e.g., a viewing position that increases the time that the train will bein the user's field of view). FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary scene 520rendered in the HMD which displays the moving train 510 from anexemplary optimal viewing position.

In other instances, upon detecting motion characteristics of theuser-selected virtual object, the computer system 100 provides anoptimal viewing position that is itself in motion (at a same relativedistance from the selected object). By way of non-limiting example, inFIG. 6A the user casts a ray 602 and selects a virtual moving train 610in a VR environment for viewing from an optimal viewing position. Thecomputer system 100 provides an optimal viewing position which istethered to the virtual spaceship (e.g., the optimal viewing position isitself moving with velocity, acceleration, and/or direction thatcorrespond to the motion characteristics of the virtual spaceship). Insuch instances, the user's viewing perspective/position is tethered tothe moving object and is dynamically updated as the object moves. Asillustrated, the optimal viewing position 620 has a velocity thatmatches that of the moving train 610, as indicated by the velocity (V)vector illustration. FIGS. 6B and 6C illustrate a top view of thevirtual environment in which the user 601 views the virtual moving train610 from the optimal viewing position 620 provided by the computersystem, which is tethered to the moving train 610. Ellipsis 630 indicatepassage of time, and FIG. 6C demonstrates that at a time later than thatshown in FIG. 6B, both the moving train 610 and the user 601 (i.e., theuser perspective rendered on the HMD) have traveled in the direction oftheir velocity (although relative to one another they are in the sameposition). This functionality may allow for users to continuously viewmoving virtual objects from optimal viewing positions without thevirtual objects escaping the user's field of view.

Some disclosed embodiments include a configuration in which the optimalviewing position is influenced by the location of a user selectionindicator (e.g., a ray) on the selected virtual object. For instance,the displacement from the virtual object, the orientation, lateraloffset, and/or the altitude of the provided optimal viewing position maydepend on the location where the user's selection ray strikes thevirtual object to be viewed.

To demonstrate an example of this functionality, FIG. 7 illustrates avirtual theatre room 700 with a virtual theatre screen 710. A firstexemplary user selection ray 702 and a second exemplary user selectionray 704 are shown, with optimal viewing positions 722 and 724corresponding to each respective user selection ray. The first userselection ray 702 strikes the virtual theatre screen 710 at a firstselection point 712 in a lower-right portion of the screen 710. Thecomputer system 100 detects the location where the user selection ray702 strikes the virtual theatre screen (e.g., selection point 712) anddecreases the displacement of the resultant optimal viewing position 722from the screen by an amount corresponding to the location of theselection point 712 (e.g., the distance between selection point 712 andthe bottom of the screen 710). The computer system 100, in someinstances, also laterally offsets the optimal viewing position 722 frombeing aligned with the center of the theatre screen 710 by an amountthat corresponds to the lateral distance between the selection point 712and the center of the screen.

User selection ray 704, on the other hand, strikes the theatre screen ata second selection point 714 in a middle-left portion of the screen.Accordingly, the computer system 100 detects the location of the secondselection point 714 and laterally offsets the optimal viewing position724 from being aligned with the center of the theatre screen 710 by anamount that corresponds to the lateral distance between the location ofthe second selection point 714 and the center of the screen 710.

In other embodiments, irrespective of where the ray is directed on thetheatre screen (or other object), the teleported/repositioned userperspective in the VR environment relative to the selected object willbe the same (e.g., will not depend on the location of the user selectionpoint). This location will be the ‘optimal’ location based on any of thefactors described herein.

Once the computer system 100 has provided an optimal viewing position(e.g., based on characteristics of the virtual object, the user, the VRenvironment, and/or the HMD, and/or based on the manner of selection,etc.), some disclosed embodiments allow users to further adjust/tune theoptimal viewing position. For example, returning to FIG. 4, in someembodiments, after the computer system provides and indicates an optimalviewing position 420, the user is able to adjust/tune the position ofthe optimal viewing position 420 from the virtual object (e.g., the VRscreen 410) in any direction/orientation (e.g., the distance, altitude,orientation, lateral offset and/or the motion characteristics of theoptimal viewing position (e.g., velocity, acceleration, and/ordirection)). In some instances, the aforementioned adjustments are madewith a user-operated control (e.g., a physical dial, button, joystick,and/or a control within an application run on the computer system 100).The user-operated control may also include gestures and/or soundsdetected by sensor(s) 150 and/or sensor(s) 160 (e.g., eyemovement/focus, hand gestures, vocal cues) to provide selection/tuninginput.

In some instances, the user adjusts the optimal viewing position beforetransitioning the user's viewpoint to that of the optimal viewingposition in the HMD. In other instances, the user repositions theirviewpoint after transitioning the user's viewpoint to that of theoptimal viewing position in the HMD.

Furthermore, in some disclosed embodiments, the optimal viewing positionis based on metadata associated with the virtual object to be viewed.Additionally or alternatively, the optimal viewing position depends onartificial intelligence and/or machine learning pertaining to thevirtual object to be viewed and/or the user(s). For instance, thecomputing system 100 is capable of adjusting the optimal viewingposition for a virtual object based on positional adjustments previouslymade by one or more users. In one example, a particular user casts a rayto select a virtual object for viewing from an optimal viewing position.This particular user regularly views the virtual object at a distancethat is closer to the virtual object than the distance that the computersystem 100 would normally identify as the optimal viewing distance. Forexample, this particular user may regularly adjust the optimal viewingdisplacement from the virtual object before transitioning viewpoints tothe provided optimal viewing position, and/or this particular user mayregularly reposition their viewpoint to be closer to the object aftertransitioning viewpoints to the provided optimal viewing position. Thecomputer system 100 detects (e.g., from data on local or networkstorage) that this particular user regularly views the virtual objectfrom a closer distance. The computer system 100 then accordingly adjuststhe optimal viewing position to comply with the user's apparentdisplacement preference with respect to the object.

In other instances, the computer system 100 makes adjustments to thealtitude of the optimal viewing position, the orientation of the optimalviewing position, the lateral offset of the optimal viewing position,and/or the motion characteristics of the optimal viewing position (e.g.,velocity, acceleration, and/or direction) based on data (e.g., formmachine learning, artificial intelligence, and/or metadata) pertainingto user preferences. In yet other instances, the computer system 100applies a user's preference vis-à-vis one or more virtual objects toother virtual objects (e.g., the computer system 100 provides closeroptimal viewing positions to a user who regularly views most objectsfrom a distance closer than the computer system 100 would normallyprovide).

In some disclosed embodiments, the optimal viewing position(s) providedby the computer system 100 are altered based on aggregate preferences(e.g., the preferred viewing distance of a group of users). Forinstance, where most users view a particular virtual object at a viewingorientation that differs from the viewing orientation ordinarilyassociated with the optimal viewing position, the computer system 100detects the aggregate user preference (e.g., from data on local ornetwork storage) and alters the viewing orientation to comply with theaggregate preference.

In some disclosed embodiments, the optimal viewing position(s) providedby the computer system 100 are altered based on contextual informationin the VR environment and/or device performance. For instance, lightingthat is intentionally provided in the VR environment and/or that iscaused by power settings of the VR device may be suboptimal for viewingcertain objects, particularly from certain angles and/or distances. Inthese instances, due to detected ambient lighting conditions in the VRenvironment, the optimal position may be adjusted (e.g., narrowed) tobring the user in closer visual proximity to the target object(s), suchthat the target object(s) can be seen more easily. Other VRenvironmental conditions may also be used to alter the optimal viewingposition (e.g., VR weather conditions like rain or fog, light effects,visual noise, etc.).

It will be appreciated that the optimal viewing position may bedetermined by one or any combination of the foregoing criteria (e.g.,the characteristics of the virtual object, the user, the VR environment,the HMD, the manner of user selection, artificial intelligence, machinelearning, and/or metadata). Furthermore, any or all of the foregoingcriteria may mutually depend on one another (e.g., alteration inorientation of the optimal viewing position may depend on thedisplacement of the optimal viewing position from the virtual object).

Once the computer system provides an optimal viewing position, in someembodiments, the user initiates a triggering event to initiate renderingof a scene in the HMD which is arranged to display the virtual objectfrom the optimal viewing position and VR perspective. In some instances,this functionality is similar to VR teleportation (e.g., moving theuser's virtual viewpoint to the optimal viewing position). In otherinstances, this functionality includes rendering a virtualrepresentation of the virtual object over the scene already displayed inthe user's HMD (e.g., similar to VR teleporting the virtual object intothe FOV of the user for optimal viewing). The triggering event may be,but is not limited to, activation of a control within an application runon the computer system 100, activation of a physical control on thecomputer system 100 (e.g., on an I/O interface 130), expiration of apredetermined time period after selecting a virtual object, detection ofacoustic signals, and/or detection of gestures (e.g., on a sensor150/160).

The functionalities described hereinabove allow for dynamicidentification of an optimal viewing position for viewing of a virtualobject or VR application in a VR environment. This allows a computersystem to provide users with optimal viewing conditions even for objectsthat are not hard-coded into the VR environment (e.g., in a VR sandboxscenario, objects that are custom created by users) and for situationswhere the characteristics of the object(s) to be views has been changedor (e.g., in VR scenarios where users are able to manipulate virtualobjects).

User Group Embodiments

Many VR systems allow for several users to collaborate in a single VRenvironment (e.g., over a network). By way of non-limiting example, a VRenvironment could include a virtual museum, with a user acting as a tourguide and other users acting as patrons. Accordingly, at least someembodiments disclosed herein are optimized for group scenarios. In someinstances, one user in a defined group selects a virtual object forviewing from an optimal viewing position (e.g., a virtual tour guideselecting an object for at least a subset of the group to view). Inresponse to this selection, in some embodiments, the computer system 100determines optimal viewing position(s) for the members of the group. Inaddition to the criteria already discussed (e.g., the characteristics ofthe virtual object, the user, the VR environment, the HMD, the manner ofuser selection, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/ormetadata) the computer system 100 may use additional and/or alternativecriteria in providing the optimal viewing position(s), described below.

In some instances, the computer system 100 identifies a single optimalviewing position for all members of the group. For example, after avirtual tour guide selects a virtual object to be viewed from an optimalviewing position and initiates scene transitioning, the scene(displaying the virtual object from the optimal viewing position)rendered in each user's HMD is the same (e.g., as if each of the groupmembers were standing in exactly the same spot). To provide a realisticviewing experience, the computer system 100, in some embodiments, placesvirtual representations of other group members around the resultantviewing location of each group member, such that if a group member wereto look around, they would see other group members standing around them.

In some instances, the users in a group have different viewingpreferences and/or parameters with respect to the virtual object to beviewed from an optimal viewing position (e.g., data indicates thatdifferent group members regularly make different alterations to thenormally provided optimal viewing position for a particular virtualobject). Furthermore, in some instances, different users have differentheights, HMD FOVs, or other characteristics pertinent to the optimalviewing position. When a single optimal viewing position is to beprovided to all users in a group, in some embodiments, the computersystem 100 averages the optimal viewing positions of all users in thegroup when identifying the optimal viewing position for the entiregroup. The resultant average optimal viewing position defines the scenethat will be displayed in each user's HMD upon initiation of scenetransitioning. In other embodiments, the computer system uses only theoptimal viewing position of only a single member of the group (e.g., avirtual tour guide or other designated leader), rather than an averageof all group members, when identifying the optimal viewing position forthe entire group.

In other instances, the computer system 100 identifies a plurality ofoptimal viewing positions for the members of the group. In someembodiments, the computer system 100 identifies an optimal viewingposition that is personal to each member of the group (e.g., one optimalviewing position for each member of the group). In such situations, thecomputer system 100 may apply each user's viewing preference to eachrespective user when identifying optimal viewing positions for eachuser. Similarly, the computer system 100 may base each user's optimalviewing position on each user's respective height, or othercharacteristics pertinent to the optimal viewing position (e.g., the FOVof each user's HMD).

In at least some disclosed embodiments, the computer system ensures thateach user will have an unobstructed view of the selected virtual object.In some instances, this includes refraining from rendering virtualrepresentations of group members whose optimal viewing position standsbetween one or more users and the virtual object to be viewed.

In some VR scenarios, it is desirable to give users a sense of realismthat precludes no-collide functionality with respect to other users(e.g., users cannot pass through one another). In such instances, someembodiments include a configuration in which the computer system 100identifies a plurality of optimal viewing positions (e.g., based onpreferences and characteristics of one or more group members) that donot overlap with one another (e.g., users standing in the optimalviewing positions would not collide with one another). Consequently, insome instances, the computer system 100 sequentially orders and assignsthe optimal viewing positions (e.g., a first best viewing position, asecond best viewing position, a third best viewing position, etc.) to agroup of users when there are designated viewing positions in the VRenvironment. To ensure a minimally unobstructed view of the virtualobject for each user, in some embodiments, the computer system 100assigns users to the ordered viewing positions according to thecharacteristics of the users in the group, such as user height (e.g.,shorter users are placed in the front-most viewing positions).

In other embodiments, the no-collide functionality is provided for eachuser, while assigning each user of a group the exact same optimalviewing position relative to an object. The plurality of users will thenview the object(s) from the same location, without being aware that theyare sharing the same position. To help accommodate realism of being in agroup setting, the different group members can be presented withdisplays of the other group members around them at different positionsin the VR environment, even though they are sharing the same viewingperspective for a particular object.

Exemplary Methods

The following discussion now refers to a number of methods and methodacts that may be performed. Although the method acts may be discussed ina certain order or illustrated in a flow chart as occurring in aparticular order, no particular ordering is required unless specificallystated, or required because an act is dependent on another act beingcompleted prior to the act being performed. These methods areimplemented by one or more processors of a computer system (e.g., thecomputer system 100 of FIG. 1). By way of example, a computer systemincludes one or more computer-readable hardware storage media that storecomputer-executable code. This computer-executable code is executable bythe one or more processors to cause the computer system to perform thesemethods.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart 800 of exemplary methods fortransitioning displayed virtual reality scenes that are rendered in aHMD to display a virtual object form an optimal viewing position.

As shown, the method(s) include: an act of detecting user selection of avirtual object being rendered in the HMD (act 801). The selection may beperformed by I/O interface(s) 130 and/or sensor(s) 150/160 (e.g.,activation of a physical control or detection of eye movement/focus) orby other systems (e.g., activation of a user control within anapplication run on the computer system 100). The selection by a user maybe implemented as a ray cast towards a virtual object being rendered inthe HMD.

An optimal viewing position for viewing the virtual object is identified(act 802). In various disclosed embodiments, the computer system 100determines the optimal viewing position based any combination of: theposition of the virtual object, the width of the virtual object, theheight of the virtual object, motion characteristics (e.g., velocity,acceleration) of the virtual object, the height of the user, the FOV ofthe HMD, characteristics of the VR environment, the location of aselection indicator on the virtual object, metadata, data pertaining touser viewpoint preferences, and/or group considerations.

Subsequently, user adjustment of the identified optimal viewing positionis allowed (act 803). In some embodiments, the user is allowed to adjustthe displacement of the optimal viewing position from the virtualobject, the altitude of the optimal viewing position, the orientation ofthe optimal viewing position, the lateral offset of the optimal viewingposition, and/or the motion characteristics of the optimal viewingposition (e.g., velocity, acceleration, and/or direction). In at leastsome instances, the aforementioned adjustments are made with auser-operated control (e.g., a physical dial, button, joystick, and/or acontrol within an application run on the computer system 100). Theuser-operated control may also include gestures and/or sounds detectedby sensor(s) 150 and/or sensor(s) 160 (e.g., eye movement/focus, handgestures, vocal cues).

Next, a predetermined triggering event for transitioning the scenerendered in the HMD is detected (act 804). The triggering event may be,but is not limited to, activation of a control within an application runon the computer system 100, activation of a physical control on thecomputer system 100 (e.g., on an I/O interface 130), expiration of apredetermined time period after selecting a virtual object, detection ofacoustic signals, and/or detection of gestures (e.g., on a sensor150/160).

Subsequent to detecting the predetermined triggering event, a scenedisplaying the virtual object from the viewpoint of the optimal viewingposition is rendered in the HMD (act 805). In some instances, this stepis similar to VR teleportation (e.g., moving the user's virtualviewpoint to the optimal viewing position). In other instances, thisstep includes rendering a virtual representation of the virtual objectover the scene already displayed in the user's HMD (e.g., similar to VRteleporting the virtual object into the FOV of the user for optimalviewpoint).

While the foregoing embodiments are primarily described as applying toconfigurations in which a user selection ray is utilized to selectvirtual objects for viewing from an optimal viewing position, anyselection indicator could be utilized with the embodiments describedherein (e.g., a pointer rendered in the HMD).

Furthermore, while many of the foregoing embodiments are primarilydescribed as applying to scenarios where a single optimal viewingposition for a virtual object is identified, those skilled in the artwill recognize that the embodiments described herein can be applied toand do apply to scenarios where multiple optimal viewing positions areidentified for a single virtual object. For example, in some instances,a user may be allowed to select between multiple optimal viewingpositions provided by the computer system 100.

It will also be appreciated that, while the disclosed embodiments areparticularly suitable for VR scenarios, the disclosed embodiments canalso be applied and used in augmented reality (AR) scenarios, where therendered VR scene or VR image is an AR scene or AR image that isrendered on an AR HMD. Accordingly, in such embodiments all of therecited VR components are replaced by corresponding AR components.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodimentsare to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changeswhich come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims areto be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system comprising: one or moreprocessor(s); and one or more computer-readable hardware storage mediahaving stored thereon computer-executable instructions that areexecutable by the one or more processor(s) to cause the computer systemto: detect a selection of a virtual object being rendered in a headmounted display (HMD), wherein a virtual selection ray, which isprovided to select the virtual object and which is also rendered in theHMD, is used to perform the selection of the virtual object; identify anoptimal viewing position of the virtual object, the optimal viewingposition being dynamically calculated based on one or morecharacteristic(s) of the virtual object; subsequent to the virtualselection ray being visualized as being cast towards the virtual objectand subsequent to the optimal viewing position being identified, causethe virtual selection ray to be automatically directed to a new locationthat is different from a location where the virtual selection ray landedafter being cast, the new location corresponding to the optimal viewingposition; and in response to detecting a predetermined triggering event,render a scene in the HMD, the scene being arranged to display thevirtual object from the new location of the virtual selection ray so asto display the virtual object from the optimal viewing position.
 2. Thecomputer system of claim 1, wherein the optimal viewing position iscalculated to be displaced from the virtual object by a distance thatcorresponds to a width of the virtual object.
 3. The computer system ofclaim 1, wherein the optimal viewing position is calculated to be basedon a function including values representing motion characteristics ofthe virtual object.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein theoptimal viewing position includes a relative altitude corresponding to aheight of the virtual object and that is based on a height of a user. 5.The computer system of claim 1, wherein the selection includes anassociated selection location, and the optimal viewing position beingcalculated to be further based on the associated selection location. 6.The computer system of claim 1, wherein the optimal viewing position iscalculated to be based at least in part on a field of view (FOV) of theHMD.
 7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein execution of thecomputer-executable instructions further causes the computer system to:allow for adjustment of the identified optimal viewing position beforerendering the scene that displays the virtual object from the optimalviewing position in the HMD.
 8. The computer system of claim 1, whereinthe optimal viewing position is further based on a function includingvalues representing one or more positional adjustment(s) previously madeto the optimal viewing position, the one or more positionaladjustment(s) being stored in metadata of the virtual object.
 9. Thecomputer system of claim 1, wherein execution of the computer-executableinstructions further causes the computer system to: identify a pluralityof optimal viewing positions; and allow for selection of one of theplurality of optimal viewing positions before rendering the scene thatdisplays the virtual object from the optimal viewing position in theHMD.
 10. A method for transitioning viewing perspectives for virtualreality scenes rendered with a head mounted display (HMD), the methodcomprising: detecting a selection of a virtual object being rendered inthe HMD, wherein a virtual selection ray, which is provided to selectthe virtual object and which is also rendered in the HMD, is used toperform the selection of the virtual object; identifying an optimalviewing position of the virtual object, the optimal viewing positionbeing dynamically calculated based on one or more characteristic(s) ofthe virtual object; subsequent to the virtual selection ray beingvisualized as being cast towards the virtual object and subsequent tothe optimal viewing position being identified, causing the virtualselection ray to be automatically directed to a new location that isdifferent from a location where the virtual selection ray landed afterbeing cast, the new location corresponding to the optimal viewingposition; and in response to detecting a predetermined triggering event,rendering a scene in the HMD, the scene being arranged to display thevirtual object from the new location of the virtual selection ray so asto display the virtual object from the optimal viewing position.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the optimal viewing position is calculatedto be displaced from the virtual object by a distance that correspondsto a width of the virtual object.
 12. The method of claim 10, whereinthe optimal viewing position is calculated to be based on a functionincluding values representing motion characteristics of the virtualobject.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the selection includes anassociated selection location, and the optimal viewing position beingcalculated to be further based on the associated selection location. 14.The method of claim 10, further comprising: allowing for adjustment ofthe identified optimal viewing position before rendering the scene thatdisplays the virtual object from the optimal viewing position in theHMD.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the optimal viewing position isfurther based on a function including values representing one or morepositional adjustment(s) previously made to the optimal viewingposition, the one or more positional adjustment(s) being stored inmetadata of the virtual object.
 16. One or more hardware storagedevice(s) having stored thereon computer-executable instructions thatare executable by one or more processor(s) of a computer system to causethe computer system to: detect a selection by a user of a virtual objectbeing rendered in a head mounted display (HMD), wherein a virtualselection ray, which is provided to the user to select the virtualobject and which is also rendered in the HMD, is used to perform theselection of the virtual object; identify an optimal viewing position ofthe virtual object, the optimal viewing position being dynamicallycalculated based on one or more characteristic(s) of the virtual object;subsequent to the virtual selection ray being visualized as being casttowards the virtual object and subsequent to the optimal viewingposition being identified, cause the virtual selection ray to beautomatically directed to a new location that is different from alocation where the virtual selection ray landed after being cast, thenew location corresponding to the optimal viewing position; and inresponse to detecting a predetermined triggering event, render a scenein the HMD, the scene being arranged to display the virtual object fromthe new location of the virtual selection ray so as to display thevirtual object from the optimal viewing position.
 17. The one or morehardware storage device(s) of claim 16, wherein the optimal viewingposition is calculated to be displaced from the virtual object by adistance that corresponds to a width of the virtual object.
 18. The oneor more hardware storage device(s) of claim 16, wherein the optimalviewing position is calculated to be based on a function includingvalues representing motion characteristics of the virtual object. 19.The one or more hardware storage device(s) of claim 16, whereinexecution of the computer-executable instructions further causes thecomputer system to: allow for user adjustment of the identified optimalviewing position before rendering the scene that displays the virtualobject from the optimal viewing position in the HMD.
 20. The one or morehardware storage device(s) of claim 16, wherein the optimal viewingposition is further based on a function including values representingone or more positional adjustment(s) previously made by at least oneuser to the optimal viewing position, the one or more positionaladjustment(s) being stored in metadata of the virtual object.